Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Ray Bartlett moved to Shreveport in 1947 to work for KWKH. At the radio station, he performed a variety of jobs. This included serving as a morning announcer, disc jockey, and emcee on the newly established Louisiana Hayride. Perhaps Bartlett’s most celebrated role, though, involved his jive-talking “Groovie Boy” persona who spun rhythm and blues records on the radio show “Groovie’s Boogie.”

Groovie left his mark in a variety of places. He’s immortalized in song thanks to Bartlett’s Shreveport friend and stage partner Red Sovine – “Groovy Boy” (MGM 10642, 1950), also covered by Webb Pierce and His Southern Valley Boys as “Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy” (4 Star 1447, 1950). Early 1950s newspaper advertisements reveal Groovie had a stake in Groovie’s Record Department located within the Hull Furniture store. According to music biographers, Groovie’s influence shaped the listening habits of teenagers like Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly.

While no recordings of the “Groovie’s Boogie” radio show have surfaced, we can hear Ray Bartlett host an installment of “Stan’s Record Revue” from December 1951. Sponsored by Shreveport record store owner Stan Lewis, this radio show featured blues and gospel releases available for mail order at discount prices. Just remember: “Late folks, this is not one big hit record and four records that you never heard of before in your life. All five of the records that you get in the Howlin’ Wolf Blues Special are the biggest hits in the nation right today, and only Stan’s Record Shop, Shreveport, Louisiana, makes the offer!”